Stone blind
Meaning
To be stone blind means to be completely and utterly unable to see, possessing no sight at all.
Origin
The phrase "stone blind" isn't about rocks hitting eyes, but rather the unyielding, absolute nature of a stone itself. Emerging in the 16th century, English speakers began using "stone" as an intensifier—a word like "dead" or "completely"—to emphasize an extreme lack of something. Just as one might be "stone deaf" to convey total hearing loss, "stone blind" painted a vivid picture of absolute sightlessness, likening the permanence of blindness to the inert, unchanging quality of a stone. It wasn't merely blind; it was immovably, utterly blind, a condition as solid and fixed as a boulder.
Examples
- After the tragic accident, he was left stone blind, unable to perceive even the faintest glimmer of light.
- Despite being stone blind from birth, she navigated her world with remarkable independence and grace, relying on her other senses.